Reply To: Advice about oil/fuel mixture in old outboards

[Sam M.]

redpackman wrote:

I have four old outboards:  Two Champion 4K’s one 1941 Champion and a 1954/55 Mongomery Wards Sea King 5 (Gale 5D10).  These all used a gas oil mixture of 30w oil, but what is a safe mixture with a more modern two cycle oil made for marine outboards. The Wards/Gale recommends half a pint of 30 weight oil to a gallon, and I believe the Champions do the same. I have some Quicksilver and Quicksilver Plus two cycle marine oil on hand. What should the mixture ratio be with that product to safely run these motors which all do start and have decent compression?

 

If your two Champions and one Gale all took 1/2 pint to one gallon originally (16/1), it is still safe to use that ratio now.  However, I think some Champions originally called for 12/1, or maybe 11/1, so best to double check.

What is your 4th motor?  It might take a different ratio.

Also, the Gale information Jaques posted says it was updated in 1960.  By then, 24/1 was an increasingly common ratio for OMC-made outboards.  Your mid ’50s Gale should still take 16/1, as it is an earlier design.  I believe that the switch to 24/1 (for certain motors only) was introduced because a roller bearing replaced a plain bearing in the motors’ design.